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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an enterovirus transmitted by the orofecal route, such as contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage. The patient's immune system makes antibodies against Hepatitis A that confer immunity against future infection. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis A for life. more...

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Features

Hepatitis A is a disease affecting the liver, and caused by the Hepatitis A virus (abbreviated HAV). Only 3 out of 4 people with hepatitis A have symptoms. Those symptoms may include:

  • Jaundice (showing up first as yellow eyes)
  • Dark urine
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Stomach ache
  • Vomiting

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Rest is recommended during the acute phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe.

Prognosis

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1991 reported a low mortality rate of 4 deaths per 1000 cases for the general population but a higher rate of 17.5 per 1000 in those aged 50 and over.

Prevention

Hepatitis A can be prevented by good hygiene and sanitation. Vaccination is also available, and is recommended in areas where the prevalence of hepatitis A is high.

Ways to prevent hepatitis A include the following:

  • Wash hands with soap and warm water before preparing or eating food, and after sexual activity.
  • Keep bathrooms clean and disinfected after every use.
  • Cook shellfish thoroughly before eating.
  • Drink water from approved sources only.
  • Use a dental dam or sheet of plastic wrap during rimming.

Epidemiology

Hepatitis A outbreaks still occur in developed countries and are usually traced to unsanitary conditions at restaurants, including but not limited to employees failing to wash their hands after restroom breaks. The most widespread Hepatitis A outbreak in American history afflicted at least 640 people (killing four) in northeastern Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania in late 2003. In November of that year, the outbreak was blamed on tainted green onions (imported from Mexico) at a restaurant in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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Migenix Initiates Enrollment In Phase Iib Hepatitis Trial
From Worldwide Biotech, 1/1/06

MIGENIX Inc. (TSX: MGI; OTC: MGIFF), a clinical-stage developer of drugs for infectious and degenerative diseases, has initiated enrollment in a Phase IIb combination therapy clinical trial of celgosivir (MX-3253), supported in part through an agreement with Schering-Plough. Celgosivir is an orally administered, first-in-class alpha glucosidase 1 inhibitor, in development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Results of the study are anticipated in mid-calendar 2006.

Jim DeMesa, M.D., president and CEO of MIGENIX stated, "With the large market potential and unmet need in current hepatitis C treatment, celgosivir is an important component of our value proposition in the short-term. Based on its strong demonstration of synergy in non-clinical studies to date, celgosivir shows great promise as part of a combination therapy approach to improving the success of treatment for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C infections."

About MX-3253 and the Phase IIb Combination Study

MX-3253 (celgosivir) is an alpha-glucosidase I inhibitor and is currently the only oral anti-HCV drug in clinical development that acts through host- directed glycosylation. In preclinical studies, celgosivir has demonstrated strong synergy with interferon-alpha with and without ribavirin and has the potential to be included as part of a combination therapeutic approach to improve efficacy and/or tolerability. A recently completed Phase IIa monotherapy study demonstrated that celgosivir was well tolerated with some evidence of antiviral activity in treatment-naive chronic HCV patients.

The Phase IIb combination study of MX-3253 is a randomized, multi-center, active-controlled, 12 week evaluation of MX-3253 in three treatment arms of up to 20 chronic HCV "non-responder" patients each: celgosivir plus peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin (3-way combination); celgosivir plus peginterferon

alfa-2b (2-way combination); and placebo plus peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin (control). An agreement was completed in July with Schering-Plough Corporation where they are contributing (a) the supply of PEGETRON(TM) (peginterferon alfa-2b powder for solution plus ribavirin 200 mg capsules) and (b) certain technical and laboratory support and other services for the study. In addition, the agreement grants Schering-Plough limited periods of exclusivity for data review of clinical trial results and for the negotiation of a license agreement.

Patients for the Phase IIb study will be selected based on having genotype 1 chronic HCV and having failed to respond to pegylated alpha interferon plus ribavirin therapy (non-responders). Today, there are very limited treatment options for the approximately 50% of HCV patients who have failed treatment with the current standard of care, pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.

About HCV

HCV, the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States, causes inflammation of the liver and may progress to more serious complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and death. Approximately 2.7 million people in the United States are chronically infected with HCV, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that by the year 2010, the number of deaths attributed annually to HCV could surpass that due to HIV/AIDS in the US. Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that 170 million individuals carry chronic HCV infection, with 3 to 4 million new infections each year.

Therapy for HCV currently employs a drug combination approach, which is anticipated to continue in the future. The current standard of care for chronic hepatitis C is pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin, which fails to provide a satisfactory outcome for approximately 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1. In addition, these drugs can cause significant side effects that limit tolerance to therapy, or a frequent lack of sustained treatment response.

About MIGENIX

MIGENIX is committed to advancing therapy, improving health, and enriching life by developing and commercializing drugs in the areas of infectious and degenerative diseases. The company's clinical programs include drug candidates for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infections (Phase II), the prevention of catheter-related infections (Phase III), the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Phase I) and the treatment of acne (Phase II). MIGENIX is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with US operations in San Diego, California.

For more information, visit http://www.migenix.com or call 604/221-9666 Ext. 241,

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